Fishing float



Nov. 12, 1940. D. ALLISON 2,221,437

FISHING FLOAT Filed May 2'7, 1939 DOUGLAS ALL/so INVENT ATTORN EY Patented Nov. 12, 1940 UNITED STATES FISHING FLOAT Douglas Allison, Fort Worth, Tex., assignor to Karl K. Elliott, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application May 27, 1939, SerialNo. 276,098

6 Claims. (01, 43 49 is greater than the length of the rod used as well as for the expeditious adjustment of the float under any circumstances.

The primary object of the invention resides in 10 the provision of a fishing float having an automatic clamping device forming a part thereof which is infallible in its operation.

Another object is in the provision of an arrangement whereby the float may be released 15 from the line by manual manipulation without inverting or otherwise entailing clumsy handling.

Broadly, the invention seeks to comprehend the provision of a fishing .fioat capable of automatic adjustment on a fishing line which is infallible in 2 its operation as well as being simple and economical in its construction.

Other and lesser objects will become manifest as the description proceeds taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

25 Figure 1 is an elevational view of one form of the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of a form of the invention similar to that illustrated in 30 Figure 1, taken on line 33 of Figure 2, but in which the spring is eliminated.

' Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of the invention, and

Figure 5 is a modified form of the ball operat- 5 ing stem which may be employed in the construction illustrated in the other figures.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawing, the numeral I generally designates afloat or body which may be of anydesired 40 shape and has a tapered tube 2 therein as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.

The large end a of the tube 2 terminates near the upper. surface of the body I, whereas the small end b terminates within the body I in a 45 bore 3 which is in axial alignment with the tube and extends through the under side of the said body.

The upper end a of the tube 2 is crimped inwardly and secures therein a disc 4. This disc 4 50 has an aperture 5 at one side of its center which is of sufiicient diameter to slidably receive a fishing line 6.

Within the passageway or bore 3 and the lower end b of the tube 2, there is provided a slidable 66 hollow stem 1 which extends outwardly from the body I and has threads 8 at its outer end to re-. ceive a relatively small handle 9, as illustrated in Figures1and3. v

At the outer end of the passagewa 3 there ispressed, or otherwise positioned, an eyelet I0 5' for slidably engaging the stem, thus insuring slidability and providing a guide for the latter.

To prevent the stem 1 from becoming disengaged, the end within the tube 2 is made with an outwardly extendingv flange H which is slightly 10 larger than the internal diameter of the small end I) of the tube 2 In construetingthe device it is obviously expedient to insert the stem 1 through the large end a of the tube 2 beforethe disc 4 is secured in place. H

Within the tube 2, and between the disc 4 and flange ll, there is provided a ball [2 for free movement, the diameter of which ,is approximately the same as that of the flange i The construction, thus far described, is capable of receiving the line 6 throughthe disc 4, the tube 2, around the ball l2 and outwardlythrough the, stem 'l,v

Thus, a downward movement of the line 5, rela-" tive to the body I, will cause the ball l2 to engage the line against the inner wall of the tapered tube 2, thereby clamping the device and determining the fishing depth.

Conversely, an upward force exerted on the line 6, relative to the body I, will cause the device to become disengaged, this last operation being best exemplified by the reeling in of line and the contact of the body 1 against the end of a fishing rod.

However, under certain circumstances, disengagement may be desired other than by contacting the float 1 against the rod. To accomplish this last purpose, the stem may be manually operated toward the disc 4 thereby releasing the ball l2 from contact with the line 6. The handle 9 is of particular advantage in operating the ball l2 when the stem 1 is wet since the latter, by reason of its design, would otherwise be difilcult to grasp.

The invention may be constructed with an expansion spring [3 disposed over the stem 1 between the eyelet l0 and the handle 9 as illustrated in Figure 1, thereby maintaining the ball l2 in position to engage the line 6 except when acted upon by a force through the handle 9 or the outer end of the stem 1.

However, the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 3 will operate satisfactorily without the spring 13, but when so used the engagement of the stem 1 with the lower end I) of the tube 2 flexible wire l5 terminates in an eyelet 16 for attaching an auxiliary line or other means 01' lifting the said wire. The lower end of the stem 1 is provided with a collar IT to which the lower end of the wire may be attached. By this arrangement the ball l2 may be made to release the line 6. The weight or sinker will cause the line 6 to continue downwardly until the operator releases the wirev t5, thereby cause.

ing the line 6 to again. be engaged. and at the desired position.

Another modification, illustrated in Figure 5,

providesv a construction of the stem 1' in which handles 18, are formed by splitting, or dividing the outer end of the stem and bending the same outwardly.

Manifestly, the structure herein shown and described is capable of considerable changes and modifications from time to time by those skilled in the art, and such changes and modifications,

as may be resorted to. which fall within the spirit and intent of the invention may also. be considered asfalling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is-claimed is: v

1. A float. for a. fishing line comprising a body,

a tapered tube disposed in the said body, a freely movable ball within the said-tube, means retaining the said ball within the said tube, a hollow stem slidably disposed within the said ta pered tube and extending through and outward- 1y from the said body, and means attached to the bottom of the said stem for raising the said ball in the said tube.

2. A fishing float comprising a body, a tapered tube in saidbody, a ball in the said tube for engaging a fishing line, a hollow stem slidably engaged within the smaller end of the said tube and extending outwardly from the said body for operating the said ball. p

3. A fishing float comprising -a bodyi a tapered tube in said body, a ball in the tube for engaging a fishing line, a hollow stem slidably engaged within the said body, the upper end of said stem terminating within the saidtapered tube, and an outwardly extending flange forming a part of the said upper end.

4. In a fishing float, a body, a tapered tube disposed within the said body, a freely movable ball within the said tube, a hollow stem slidably disposed within the small end of the tapered tubeand extending outwardly through the said body, means retaining the said stem within the said tube and a handle secured to the outer end of the said stern for manipulating the ball in the said tube by the said stem.

5. A fishing float comprising a body, a tapered tube in said body, a ball in the tube for engaging a fishing line, a hollow stem slidably engaged within the smaller end of the said tube and extending outwardly from the said body for operating the said ball, and means arranged on the lower end of the said stem for manipulating the said ball.

6. A float for a fishing. line comprising a body, a tapered tube disposed in the said body, a freely movable ball within the said tube, means retaining. the said ball within the said tube, V

hollow stem slidably engaged Within the saidta pered tube and extending outwardly from th said body, another tube arranged through the said body and situated near the first named tube, a flexible wire slidably disposed within the lastv named tube, and-means connecting the said wire with the outer end of the said stem.

DOUGLAS ALLISON. 

